Difference in polynucleation of cultured cells from human mammary tumors and normal mammary glands on treatment with cytochalasin B.

In order to study the biological nature of various mammary tumors, differences in the formation of polynuclear cells after the administration of cytochalasin B were investigated in cultures of human mammary tumors and normal mammary gland. When cytochalasin B was applied to the cultures, polynuclear cells increased in all cancer cases (6.1% on average), but relatively little effect was seen in cases of benign tumors and normal mammary gland (less than 1.1% on average). From these results, it appears that the difference in polynucleation on treatment with cytochalasin B may be useful as a biological means to distinguish human malignant and benign mammary tumors.